March 28, 2024

2018 Elections

Blue surge or red surprise?

A number of competitive seats statewide could set the tone nationally.

Jason Garcia | 9/27/2018

Florida Senate


The Big Picture — The most important races in Florida this year just might be those for the state Senate, which includes 23 Republicans, 16 Democrats and one vacant seat previously held by a Republican. It’s unlikely, but not impossible, that long-suffering Florida Democrats could emerge with a narrow majority or a split in Tallahassee’s upper chamber. But to win control of the Senate, Democrats almost certainly will have to run the table and win all five races seen as genuinely competitive.

District 16: In the Tampa Bay region, two former state House members, Republican Ed Hooper and Democrat Amanda Murphy, are vying for the Pinellas County seat in district 16 previously held by former Republican Sen. Jack Latvala.

District 18: The most expensive legislative race in the state is in Tampa, where incumbent Republican Dana Young is trying to fend off outgoing House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz.

District 8: A big battleground is in district 8 in North-Central Florida, where GOP-leaning suburbs, exurbs and rural communities surround Democratic-heavy Gainesville. Sen. Keith Perry, the Republican incumbent who won a tough race two years ago to win the seat, faces Kayser Enneking, a Gainesville physician.

District 22: Democrats have mounted a surprisingly strong challenge in Polk and Lake counties, where Bob Doyel, a retired circuit court judge, is taking on incumbent Republican Sen. Kelli Stargel.

District 36: In Miami, outgoing Republican state Rep. Manny Diaz faces Democrat David Perez, an ex-aide to former Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas.

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